Think of it like a camera — when we first pick it up and point it at something the chances are it’s not in focus. But, that starting point gives us the ability to hone in and gradually focus on the image in the way you want.

Focus doesn’t lead to action, action leads to focus.

3. Eliminate. Then choose.

Here’s how most of us choose where to aim our focus.

We consider the list of things we need to do and choose whichever seems most interesting or urgent.

There’s a step missing in that process.

Before we choose what to focus on, we must eliminate that which is not worthy of our focus.

The process of removing activities that don’t warrant our focus forces us to set priorities and narrow the scope of our work. It forces decisions about what matters and what’s a distraction, and thins the herd of things competing for attention in our mind.

It’s a better first step to focus than simply choosing something to work on.

4. Make your activity a necessity.

It’s easier to focus on what we need than what we want.

If we were drowning and the only way to survive was to swim to the surface, we’d have no problem focusing on that.

Because it would be a necessity and when something’s a necessity, focus is easy.

Now hopefully our activities aren’t as life or death as that example, but the more we make them feel like necessities, the easier we can focus on them.

5. Recognize the world’s working against you.

I’m an optimist and don’t believe people and situations are out to get us, but when it comes to focus I make an exception.

Because the world around us is designed to distract and interrupt us — everything from social networks, to offices, to entertainment, to advertising are specifically designed to steal our attention.

No wonder it’s hard to focus.

We must recognize this and take control of our own world in order to improve our focus.

These distractions are the enemy when it comes to our ability to focus so we must fight back and create our own parameters for the world we want to live in.

When it’s time to focus, we can shut off our phone, shut down our email, turn off the TV, and get out of the office if we need to — whatever it takes to keep the enemy outside the gates.

6. Don’t multitask.

We think multitasking makes us more productive. It doesn’t. Actually, it doesn’t even exist.

When we “multitask,” we switch back and forth rapidly between a series of different tasks. These each require their own focus, and that constant switching drains our focus.